Author: Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

In 2014 the Dalai Lama visited Birmingham, Alabama. At that time, Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama’s translator and a renown scholar and author in his own right, did not have an opportunity to experience much of the city during his visit. Last month, nearly four years later, Jinpa returned to the Magic City, this time to network and spread his special message about compassion.

Last week, at the conclusion of a two day tour of Birmingham, Christopher Coes, Vice President at Smart Growth America and a leading expert on transportation and walkable communities declared that Birmingham can be one of the most walkable cites in the South.

Last week, Bham Now celebrated Arbor Week with a photo gallery of big beautiful trees sent to us by our readers. One reader, Dr. Mike Hardig, a professor at the University of Montevallo, sent us numerous photos of famous and state champion oak trees. We promised to publish a photo gallery. With many thanks to Dr. Hardig here are Alabama’s Mighty Oaks.

Earlier this month, the Birmingham Legion announced that the Birmingham Hammers soccer team will be playing one last season in the USL PDL league. . The club will be playing its 2018 season on the campus of Samford University.